Book trimming machine

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a machine for performing trimming operations upon the front and side edges of a book as the book continues to advance through the machine. The machine includes a front edge trimming table which is reciprocated in a horizontal direction and receives a book from an infeed conveyor as the table moves in the direction of the conveyor. As the table continues to move in the direction of the infeed conveyor, the book is clamped to the table and the front edge of the book is trimmed. The machine further includes a side edge trimming table which is reciprocated in synchronism but substantially out of phase with the front edge trimming table. As the front edge table completes its motion in the direction of the infeed conveyor and as the side edge table is about to move in the same direction, the book having its front edge trimmed is advanced onto the side edge table. As the side edge table continues to move in the direction of the infeed conveyor, the book is clamped to the side edge table and the side edges of the book are trimmed. Toward the end of the forward motion of the side edge table, the book is released to a conveyor which advances it from the machine.

United States Patent I Inventors Robert A. Bryson Easton, Pa.; Thomas C. Kennicottnlanesville, Wis.; Ernest J. San-ing, Fort Thomas, Ky. [21 Appl. No. 737,969 1 [22] Filed June 18, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 5, 1971 [73] Assignee T; W. 8; C. B. Sheridan Company Easton, Pa. a corporation of New York (organized in [54] BOOK TRIMMING MACHINE 49 Claims, 32 Drawing Figs.

[52] 0.8. CI. 83/23, 83/39, 83/155, 83/157, 83/158, 83/303, 83/319, 83/320, 83/391 [51 Int. Cl B65h 35/06 [50] Field ofSearch 83/23, 39, 155,157160, 303, 310, 318-320, 328, 391, 404, 418, 438, 92585 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,122,041 2/1964 Kile et al 83/319X 90 Ill 215 Ice 214 G age 3,146,650 9/1964 Sarringetal 83/391X Primary Examiner-William S. Lawson Attorney- Kenyon and Kenyon, Reilly Carr & Chapin ABSTRACT: The disclosure relates to a machine for performing trimming operations upon the front and side edges of a book as the book continues to advance through the machine. The machine includes a front edge trimming table which is reciprocated in a horizontal direction find receives a book from an infeed conveyor as the table moves in the direction of the conveyor. As the table continues to move in the direction of the infeed conveyor, the book is clamped to the table and the front edge of the book is trimmed. The machine further includes a side edge trimming table which is reciprocated in synchronism but substantially out of phase with the front edge trimming table. As the front edge table completes its motion in the direction of the infeed conveyor and as the side edge table is about to move in the same direction, the book having its front edge trimmed is advanced onto the side edge table. As the side edge table continues to move in the direction of the infeed conveyor, the book is clamped to the side edge table and the side edges of the book are trimmed. Toward the end of the forward motion of the side edge table, the book is released to a conveyor which advances it from the machine.

PATENTED m m: 3.552.246

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1. A machine for performing trimming operations upon a book comprising: a. a first trimming table; b. first means for advancing a book onto said first trimming table; c. first means for reciprocating said first trimming table along a substantially horizontal path of travel; d. first means disposed on said first trimming table for performing a trimming operation as said first trimming table is moved by said reciprocating means away from said advancing means; e. a second trimming table; f. second means for reciprocating said second trimming table along a substantially horizontal path of travel substantially in alignment with and adjacent to the path of travel of said first trimming table, said second reciprocating means being in synchronism and substantially out of phase with said first reciprocating means so that said first trimming table and said second trimming table reciprocate in substantially opposite directions; g. second means for advancing a book from said first trimming table and with respect to said second trimming table; h. second means disposed on said second trimming table for performing an additional trimming operation as said second trimming table is moved by said second reciprocating means away from said first reciprocating means; aNd i. means for discharging the trimmed book from said second trimming table, whereby trimming operations are performed upon a book as the book continues to move through the machine.
 2. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 1 in which said first means for advancing a book onto said first trimming table comprises: a. a surface extending adjacent to said first trimming table; b. means for conveying a book along said surface toward said first trimming table, and c. means for pushing a book from engagement with said conveying means and onto said first trimming table.
 3. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 2 in which said means for conveying a book along said surface toward said first trimming table comprises: a. an elongated driving member extending adjacent said surface and moving substantially toward said first trimming means; and b. a plurality of lugs pivotally attached to said driving member, each of said lugs having an operative position in which the upper portion of each of said lugs extends above said surface for engaging a book adjacent thereto and a withdrawn position in which the upper portion of each of said lugs is pivoted beneath said surface for disengaging from a book adjacent thereto.
 4. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 2 in which said means for pushing a book from engagement with said conveying means and onto said first trimming means comprises: a. at least one pusher member adapted to engage a book being conveyed along said surface in response to said conveying means; and b. means for cyclically moving said pusher member above said surface and toward said first trimming table to advance a book thereon and for cyclically moving said pusher member beneath said surface and away from said first trimming means to return said pusher member to a position to engage and push the next successive book being conveyed along said surface by said conveying means.
 5. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 2 and further comprising means for adjusting the phase relationship between the operation of said means for conveying a book and said means for pushing a book, whereby the optimum timing of the movement of a book from said conveying means to said pushing means can be determined.
 6. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 5 in which: a. said means for conveying a book along said surface toward said first trimming table includes a drive shaft; b. said means for pushing a book from engagement with said conveying means and onto said first trimming table includes a drive cam coupled to said drive shaft and a cam follower engaging said drive cam for actuating said pushing means; and c. in which said means for adjusting the phase relationship between the operation of said conveying means and said pushing means includes gear train means connected between said drive shaft and said conveying means for adjustably selecting the phase relationship therebetween and means for positioning said cam follower relative to said drive cam for adjustably selecting the phase relationship therebetween.
 7. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 6 in which a common linkage is connected to said gear train means for adjustably selecting the phase relationship with said drive shaft and is connected to said cam follower for adjustably selecting the phase relationship with said cam, whereby said common linkage enables the phase relationship between the operation of said conveying means and said pushing means to be adjusted.
 8. A machine for performing a trimming operation in accordance with claim 2 in which said first means for advancing a book onto said first trimming table further comprises: a. a guide member extending along said surface toward said first trimming table, said guide member being adapted to engage one of the sidE edge portions of a book being conveyed along said surface by said conveying means; and b. means frictionally engaging the face of a book disposed opposite said surface for urging the book toward said guide member as the book is being conveyed along said surface, whereby said guide member enables the book to be aligned with respect to said first trimming table.
 9. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 8 in which said means frictionally engaging the face of a book disposed opposite said surface comprises: a. at least one flexible endless member having a lower reach extending substantially parallel to and spaced from said surface at a distance enabling said flexible endless member to engage the face of the book disposed opposite said surface, said flexible endless member extending at an angle toward said guide member in the direction of the conveying of a book by said conveying means; and b. means for driving the lower reach of said flexible endless member toward said first trimming table.
 10. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 1 in which said first means for reciprocating said first trimming table along a substantially horizontal path of travel comprises: a. pivotally mounted substantially vertically extending rocker links pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said first trimming table; and b. means for swinging said rocker links with a back and forth motion extending cyclically toward and away from said first means for advancing a book onto said first trimming table.
 11. A machine for trimming in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for providing a resilient restraint to said first trimming table to resist the reciprocating thereof by said first means for reciprocating said first trimming table, whereby the torque fluctuations of said first reciprocating means in reciprocating said first trimming table and the vibration thereof are reduced.
 12. A machine for trimming in accordance with claim 10 and further comprising means for providing a resilient torsional restraint to said pivotally mounted substantially vertical extending rocker links to resist the swinging thereof in response to said swinging means.
 13. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 1 in which said first means disposed on said first trimming table for performing a trimming operation comprises: a. a lower front edge trimming knife disposed adjacent the upper surface of a portion of said first trimming table disposed adjacent to said first means for advancing a book, said lower front edge knife extending substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of said first trimming table; b. an upper front edge trimming knife; c. first means for movably mounting said upper front edge trimming knife with respect to said first trimming table in a substantially horizontally extending direction overlying and parallel to said lower front edge trimming knife; and d. third means driven in synchronism with said first means for reciprocating said first trimming table for reciprocating said movable mounting means vertically with respect to said first trimming table, said mounting means being lowered to a trimming position when said first trimming table is being reciprocated away from said advancing means.
 14. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 13 and further comprising: a. first means movably mounted with respect to said first trimming table and extending adjacent and substantially parallel to said lower front edge trimming knife for clamping a book during the front edge trimming operation; and b. fourth means for cyclically reciprocating said first clamping means vertically with respect to said first trimming table between a clamping position adjacent said first trimming table and a disengaged position, said fourth reciprocating means being operated substantially in synchronism with said third reciprocating meAns which reciprocates said first movable mounting means for said upper front edge trimming knife.
 15. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 13 and further comprising: a. means movably mounted with respect to said first trimming table for stopping a book being advanced on said first trimming table by said first advancing means; and b. means for cyclically moving said stopping means between an operative position above the upper surface of said first trimming table and a retracted position below the upper surface of said first trimming table, said cyclical moving means moving said stopping means into said operative position in synchronism with the advancing of a book by said first advancing means.
 16. A machine for trimming in accordance with claim 13 and further comprising: a. structure forming an opening disposed between the end portion of said first advancing means adjacent said first trimming table and said lower front edge trimming knife on said first trimming table, said opening being adapted to receive front edge trimmings from said lower front trimming knife; b. a gate member movably mounted on said first trimming table between said lower front trimming knife and the end portion of said first trimming table adjacent thereto, the upper surface of said gate member being substantially coplanar with the upper surface of said first trimming table; and c. means for cyclically extending said gate member over said opening to enable a book being advanced by said first advancing means to cross said opening and withdrawing said gate member toward said first trimming table to expose said opening to trimmings from said lower front edge trimming knife during the front edge trimming operation, said extending and withdrawing means operating in synchronism with said first means for reciprocating said first trimming table.
 17. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 1 in which said second means for reciprocating said second trimming table along a substantially horizontal path of travel substantially in alignment with and adjacent to the path of travel of said first trimming table comprises: a. additional pivotally mounted substantially vertically extending rocker links pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said second trimming table; and b. additional means for swinging said rocker links with a back and forth motion extending cyclically toward and away from said first trimming table, said additional swinging means operating in synchronism but substantially out of phase with said first trimming table, whereby said first trimming table and said second trimming table reciprocate in opposite directions with respect to one another.
 18. A machine for trimming in accordance with claim 17 and further comprising additional means for providing a resilient restraint to said second trimming table to resist the reciprocating thereof by said second means for reciprocating said second trimming table, whereby the torque fluctuations of said second reciprocating means in reciprocating said second trimming table and the vibration thereof are reduced.
 19. A machine for trimming in accordance with claim 17 and further comprising additional means for providing a resilient torsional restraint to said additional pivotally mounted substantially vertical extending rocker links to resist the swinging thereof in response to said additional swinging means.
 20. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 1 in which said second means for advancing a book from said first trimming table and with respect to said second trimming table comprises: a. a lower conveyor element disposed adjacent to said second trimming table and operating over a distance which is stationary with respect to said machine, said lower conveying element extending substantially horizontally and in alignment with the path of travel of the upper surface of said second trimming table and moving away From said first trimming table; and b. an upper conveyor element disposed adjacent to the upper surface of said second trimming table and operating over a distance stationary with respect to said machine, said upper conveyor element extending substantially parallel and adjacent to said lower conveyor element and moving in the direction of said lower conveyor element, said upper conveyor element and said lower conveyor element being adapted to advance a book disposed therebetween with respect to said second trimming table.
 21. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 20 in which: a. said lower conveyor element comprises the upper reach of an endless belt; and b. said upper conveyor element comprises the lower reach of another endless belt.
 22. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 20 and further comprising: a. means for supporting the end portion of said upper conveyor element disposed adjacent to said first trimming table; and b. means for cyclically raising and lowering said end portion of said upper conveyor element from an upper position in which said end portion clears a book disposed on said first trimming table to a lower position in which said end portion engages a book disposed on said first trimming table, said cyclical raising and lowering means operating in synchronism with said first means for performing the front edge trimming operation with said end portion being lowered to the lower position thereof and into engagement with a book when the front edge trimming operation of the book is completed by said first performing means.
 23. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 22 in which said upper conveyor element comprises the lower reach of an endless belt and in which said means for supporting the end portion of said upper conveyor element disposed adjacent to said first trimming table comprises: a. a substantially horizontal plate overlying the end portion of the lower reach of said endless belt adjacent said first trimming table; b. a roller mounted adjacent the end of said plate adjacent said first trimming means for supporting said end portion of the lower reach of said belt adjacent thereto; and c. means for pivotally mounting the other end of said plate and having an axis of rotation extending substantially horizontally and at right angles to said lower reach of said belt, said means for cyclically raising and lowering said end portion of said upper conveyor element being coupled to said plate.
 24. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 23 and further comprising means for resiliently mounting said means for pivotally mounting the other end of said plate, whereby said plate can comply with abnormal loading applied thereto.
 25. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 23 and further comprising: a. an additional substantially horizontal plate overlying another portion of the lower reach of said endless belt disposed opposite said end portion thereof; and b. an additional means for pivotally mounting the end portion of said additional plate adjacent to said plate about an axis of rotation at least parallel to said axis of rotation of said means for pivotally mounting the other end of said plate.
 26. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 25 and further comprising: a. means coupled to said plate, to said additional plate, and to said means for said additional means for pivotally mounting said plate and said additional plate for supporting said plate and said additional plate substantially horizontally with respect to said machine; and b. means coupled to two spaced apart points disposed on said supporting means for adjustably positioning said supporting means at any one of a plurality of elevations with respect to said machine while maintaining said plate and said additional plate substantially in a common horizontAl plane.
 27. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 20 and further comprising: a. means for supporting the end portion of said upper conveyor element disposed opposite to said first trimming table; and b. additional means for cyclically raising and lowering said additional end portion of said upper conveyor element from an upper position in which said end portion clears a book disposed on said second trimming table to a lower position in which said additional end portion engages a book disposed on said second trimming table, said cyclical raising and lowering means operating in synchronism with said second means for performing the side edge trimming operations with said additional end portion being lowered to the lower position thereof and into engagement with a book when the side edge trimming operations of the book are completed by said second performing means.
 28. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 1 in which said second means disposed on said second trimming table for performing an additional trimming operation comprises: a. a pair of lower edge trimming knives spaced apart from one another and disposed adjacent the upper surface of said second trimming table, said lower side edge knives extending substantially parallel to the path of travel of said second trimming table; b. a pair of upper side edge trimming knives each corresponding to a different one of said pair of lower side edge trimming knives; c. a pair of second means for movably mounting said pair of upper side edge trimming knives with respect to said second trimming table in a substantially horizontally extending direction overlying and parallel to their respective lower side edge trimming knives; and d. fifth means driven in synchronism with said second means for reciprocating said second trimming table for reciprocating said pair of movable mounting means vertically with respect to said second trimming table, said pair of second movable mounting means being lowered to a trimming position when said second trimming table is being reciprocated away from said first trimming table.
 29. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 28 and further comprising: a. a pair of second means movably mounted with respect to said second trimming table for clamping a book thereto during the side edge trimming operations, each of said pair of second clamping means extending adjacent and substantially parallel to a different one of said pair of lower side edge trimming knives; and b. sixth means for cyclically reciprocating said pair of second clamping means vertically with respect to said second trimming table between a clamping position adjacent said second trimming table and a disengaged position, said sixth reciprocating means being operated substantially in synchronism with said fifth reciprocating means which reciprocates said second movable mounting means for said upper side edge trimming knives.
 30. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for discharging the trimmed book from said second trimming table comprises: a. a first discharge conveyor means for receiving the trimmed book from said second means for advancing a book from said first trimming table and with respect to said second trimming table; b. a second discharge conveyor means extending downstream from said first discharge conveyor means; c. means overlying the entrance portion of said second discharge conveyor means for urging a book against said second discharge conveyor means; and d. means for cyclically lowering said urging means against a book entering onto said second discharge conveyor to cause the book to engage and be advanced by said second discharge conveyor, said cyclical lowering means operating in synchronism with said second advancing means.
 31. A method for performing trimming operations upon a book comprising the steps of: a. advancing a book in a predetermined timed sequence onto a first reciprocating trimming table as the table moves in the direction of the advancing of the book; b. performing a trimming operation as said first trimming table is moved in the direction of the advancing of the book; c. advancing a book from the first trimming table to a second reciprocating trimming table as the table moves in the direction of the advancing of the book; d. performing an additional trimming operation as the second trimming table is moved in the direction of the advancing of the book; and e. discharging the trimmed book from said second trimming table, whereby trimming operations are performed upon a book as the book continues to be advanced.
 32. A method in accordance with claim 31 in which said step of advancing a book in a predetermined timed sequence onto a first reciprocating trimming table comprises the steps of: a. conveying the book toward the entrance of the machine by a lug pivotally attached to an elongated driving member, the lug having an operative position in which the lug engages the book and a retracted position in which the lug disengages the book; b. pivoting the lug to its retracted position to disengage the book; and c. additionally conveying the book toward the entrance of the machine by a pusher member moved into the path of travel of the book and into engagement therewith, the pusher member being engaged with the book in a predetermined timed sequence with the moving of the lug into its retracted position.
 33. A method in accordance with claim 32 and further comprising the step of simultaneously adjusting the phase relationship between the operation of the step of conveying the book toward the first reciprocating trimming table by a lug pivotally attached to an elongated driving member and the step of additionally conveying the book toward the first reciprocating trimming table by a pusher member moved into the path of travel of the book and into engagement therewith.
 34. A method in accordance with claim 31 in which said step of advancing a book in a predetermined timed sequence onto a first reciprocating trimming table comprises the steps of: a. urging the book toward one side of the path along which the book is advanced toward the first reciprocating trimming table; and b. guiding the side edge of the book adjacent to the side of the path toward which the book is urged, whereby the step of guiding aligns the book with the first reciprocating trimming table.
 35. A method in accordance with claim 31 in which the step of performing a trimming operation as said trimming table is moved in the direction of the advancing of the book comprises the steps of: a. stopping the advancing of the book relative to the first reciprocating trimming table as the table moves in the direction of advancement of the book; b. clamping the stopped book on the first reciprocating trimming table; and c. trimming the front edge of the clamped book on the first reciprocating trimming table as the table continues to move.
 36. A method in accordance with claim 31 in which the step of performing an additional trimming operation as the second trimming table is moved in the direction of the advancing of the book comprises the steps of: a. clamping the book being advanced from the first trimming table to the surface of the second trimming table as the second trimming table continues to move in the direction of the advance of the book; and b. trimming the side edges of the clamped book as the second trimming table continues to move in the direction of the advance of the book.
 37. A method in accordance with claim 31 in which the step of discharging the trimmed book from the second trimming table comprises the steps of: a. unclamping the book with respect to the second reciprocating trimming table after the side edges of the book are trimmed and while the second table continues to move in the direction of the advanCe of the book; and b. subjecting the unclamped book to conveying forces directed to discharge the book from the second table.
 38. A machine for performing trimming operations upon a book comprising: a. an infeed table; b. means for positioning a book on said infeed table in a transverse direction with respect to the path of the book through said machine; c. a first trimming table; d. first means for advancing a book onto said first trimming table from said infeed table; e. first means for reciprocating said first trimming table along a substantially horizontal path of travel; f. first means disposed on said first trimming table for performing a trimming operation as said first trimming table is moved by said reciprocating means away from said advancing means; g. a second trimming table; h. second means for reciprocating said second trimming table along a substantially horizontal path of travel substantially in alignment with and adjacent to the path of travel of said first trimming table, said second reciprocating means being in synchronism and substantially out of phase with said first reciprocating means so that said first trimming table and said second trimming table reciprocate in substantially opposite directions; i. second means for advancing a book from said first trimming table and with respect to said second trimming table; j. second means disposed on said second trimming table for performing an additional trimming operation as said second trimming table is moved by said second reciprocating means away from said first reciprocating means; and k. means for discharging the trimmed book from said second trimming table, whereby trimming operations are performed upon a book as the book continues to move through the machine.
 39. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 38 in which said means for positioning a book on said infeed table in a transverse direction with respect to the path of the book through the machine comprises: a. a guide member extending along said infeed table substantially parallel to the path of travel of a book through said machine; and b. a jogger for urging a book into contact with said guide member.
 40. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 39 and further comprising means for reciprocating said jogger in a direction transverse to the path of travel of a book through said machine.
 41. A machine for performing a trimming operation in accordance with claim 38 in which said means for positioning a book on said infeed table in a transverse direction with respect to the path of the book through said machine comprises: a. a guide member extending along said infeed table substantially parallel to the path of travel of a book through said machine; and b. a plurality of resilient members disposed along a line spaced apart and substantially parallel to said guide member, said resilient elements extending in a direction toward said guide member and being adapted to contact and thereby urge the book into abutment with said guide member.
 42. A machine for performing a trimming operation in accordance with claim 41 in which each of said plurality of resilient members comprises a resilient blade extending at an angle toward said guide member and toward the direction of travel of a book through said machine.
 43. A machine for performing a trimming operation in accordance with claim 39 in which said means for positioning a book on said infeed table in a transverse direction with respect to the path of the book through said machine further comprises a plurality of resilient members disposed along a line spaced apart and substantially parallel to said guide member, said resilient elements extending in a direction toward said guide member and being adapted to contact and thereby urge the book into abutment with said guide member.
 44. A method for performing trimming operations upon a book comprising the steps of: a. conveying a book along an infeed table; b. positioning a book being conveyed along the infeed table in a direction transverse to the path of travel of the conveying; c. advancing a book being conveyed along the infeed table in a predetermined timed sequence onto a first reciprocating trimming table as the table moves in the direction of the advancing of the book; d. performing a trimming operation as the first trimming table is moved in the direction of the advancing of the book; e. advancing a book from the first trimming table to a second reciprocating trimming table as the table moves in the direction of the advancing of the book; f. performing an additional trimming operation as the second trimming table is moved in the direction of the advancing of the book; and g. discharging the trimmed book from said second trimming table, whereby trimming operations are performed upon the front and upon the side edges of a book as the book continues to be advanced. 45 A method in accordance with claim 44 in which said step of positioning a book being conveyed along the infeed table in a direction transverse to the path of travel of the conveying comprises the step of urging a book into contact with a guide member extending along the infeed table in a direction parallel to the path of the conveying. 46 A method in accordance with claim 45 in which the step of urging a book into contact with a guide member extending along the infeed table in a direction parallel to the path of the conveying comprises the step of jogging the book toward the guide member.
 47. A method in accordance with claim 45 in which the step of urging a book into contact with a guide member extending along the infeed table in a direction parallel to the path of the conveying comprises the step of resiliently biasing the book into contact with the guide member along at least a portion of the travel of the book along the infeed table.
 48. A method in accordance with claim 44 in which said step of performing a trimming operation as the first trimming table is moved in the direction of the advancing of the book comprises trimming the front edge of the book.
 49. A method in accordance with claim 44 in which said step of performing an additional trimming operation as the second trimming table is moved in the direction of the advancing of the book comprises trimming the side edges of the book. 